Digital video recorder that enables recording at a selected resolution

ABSTRACT

A particular method includes identifying a request to record media programming at a media recorder. The request specifies a recording resolution. The method includes determining a resolution of the media programming and comparing whether the resolution matches the recording resolution. The method includes converting the media programming at the resolution to the recording resolution with in response to determining that the resolution is different than the recording resolution, wherein the media programming is stored at the recording resolution at a storage device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/705,297, filed Dec. 5, 2012, by Farah entitled,“Digital Video Recorder That Enables Recording at a SelectedResolution.” The contents of each of the foregoing is/are herebyincorporated by reference into this application as if set forth hereinin full.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is generally related to a digital video recorderthat enables recording at a selected resolution.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

A digital video recorder may be used to record television programming asrecorded content and to later playback the recorded content whenconvenient. The digital video recorder may include functionality forrecording television programming, managing recorded content, and playingrecorded content to a display device. When a user records televisionprogramming, the television programming may be recorded at a resolutionassociated with a channel being recorded or a resolution associated witha service level agreement with a service provider.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a system including adigital media recorder that enables recording at a selected resolution.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a system including anetwork media recorder that enables recording at a selected resolution.

FIG. 3 is a representation of an embodiment of a digital video recorderinterface for entering information and options usable by a digital videorecorder (DVR) to record television programming.

FIG. 4 is a representation of an embodiment of a digital video recorderinterface for entering information and options usable by a digital videorecorder to record episodes of a series of television programming.

FIG. 5 is a representation of an embodiment of a digital video recorderinterface for entering information and options usable by a digital videorecorder to record particular television programming.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a first method to recordtelevision programming to a digital video recorder at a selectedresolution.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a second method to recordtelevision programming to a digital video recorder at a selectedresolution.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a generalcomputer system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A digital video recorder may be used to record television programming.The digital video recorder may be associated with a particular device(e.g., a set-top box, a computer system, a mobile communication device,etc.) or may be a network digital video recorder that is able to receiverequests from remote devices associated subscribers to a service. When auser chooses to record particular television programming, a digitalvideo recorder interface may be presented to the user. The digital videorecorder interface may enable the user to select a recording resolutionfor the recording. The recording resolution may be higher than, the sameas, or lower than a resolution of the television programming to bereceived by the digital video recorder. When the resolution of thetelevision programming received by the digital video recorder is thesame as the recording resolution, the digital video recorder may storethe television programming as recorded content to a storage device. Whenthe resolution of the television programming received by the digitalvideo recorder is different than the recording resolution, the digitalvideo recorder may convert the resolution of the television programmingto the recording resolution and store the television programming asrecorded content to the storage device. Providing the option to selectthe recording resolution may enable the user to choose whether therecorded content should be at a high resolution, which may use morestorage space and provide a better viewing experience, or whether therecorded content should be recorded at a lower resolution, which may useless storage space and provide a less pleasing viewing experience thanthe viewing experience at a higher resolution. The user may choose therecording resolution based on a number of factors, including but notlimited to recording space, television programming content, the playbackdevice that will present the recorded content, a number of times thatthe recorded content will be viewed, other factors, or combinationsthereof.

In a particular embodiment, a method includes receiving a request torecord television programming at a digital video recorder from a firstdevice. The request specifies a recording resolution. The methodincludes receiving the television programming at a first resolution atthe digital video recorder. The method includes determining whether thefirst resolution is the recording resolution and converting thetelevision programming at the first resolution to the recordingresolution when the first resolution is different than the recordingresolution. The method also includes storing, via the digital videorecorder, the television programming at the recording resolution at astorage device as recorded content.

In a particular embodiment, a digital video recorder includes aninterface to receive television programming at a first resolution. Thedigital video recorder includes a processor coupled to the interface.The digital video recorder also includes a memory accessible to theprocessor. The memory includes instructions executable by the processorto receive a request to record the television programming. The memoryincludes instructions executable by the processor to send a graphicalinterface to a display device in response to the request. The graphicalinterface enables entry of user input to set a recording resolution forthe television programming. The memory includes instructions executableby the processor to determine whether the first resolution is therecording resolution. The memory includes instructions executable by theprocessor to convert the television programming from the firstresolution to the recording resolution when the recording resolution isdifferent than the first resolution. The memory also includesinstructions executable by the processor to store the televisionprogramming at the recording resolution at a storage device as recordedcontent.

In a particular embodiment, a computer-readable device includesinstructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor toperform operations that include receiving a request to record televisionprogramming at a digital video recorder from a first device. Theoperations also include sending a graphical interface to a displaydevice in response to the request. The graphical interface prompts auser to set a recording resolution for the television programming. Theoperations further include receiving the television programming at afirst resolution at the digital video recorder and determining whetherthe first resolution is the recording resolution. The televisionprogramming at the first resolution is converted to the televisionprogramming at the recording resolution, with the digital videorecorder, in response to determining that the first resolution isdifferent than the recording resolution. After the conversion, thetelevision programming at the recording resolution is stored at astorage device.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a particular embodiment of a system 100including a digital video recorder (DVR) 102 to record televisionprogramming at a selected resolution. The system 100 may include a mediadevice 104, a sound system 106, and a display device 108. In someembodiments, the DVR 102 may be an integral component of the mediadevice 104. In other embodiments, the DVR 102 may be a separatecomponent coupled to the media device 104, the display device 108, orboth. The media device 104 may be a set-top box device, a computer, atablet computer, a mobile communication device, another device, or acombination thereof that is able to send requested media content to thesound system 106, the display device 108, or both, for playback.Requested media content may be recorded content that was recorded by theDVR 102, media content stored in a memory of the media device 104, ormedia content received at the media device 104. The sound system 106,the display device 108, or both, may be integral components of the mediadevice 104 or may be separate components coupled to the media device104.

The television programming may be provided to the media device 104 by alocal broadcaster 110, a service provider system 112, another entity, orcombinations thereof. Television programming may include media contentthat is to be broadcast, multicast, or otherwise delivered to viewers ata scheduled time via a particular television channel. Televisionprogramming may include, but is not limited to, media content providedby television stations, media content corresponding to an event providedon a pay-per-view basis at a particular time, and other media contentreceivable via a television channel.

Television programming 114 provided by the local broadcaster 110 may bereceived via an antenna associated with the media device 104 when themedia device 104 is tuned to a particular channel. Televisionprogramming 116 provided by a service provider system 112 may bereceived via a network 118 and customer premises equipment (CPE) 120.The CPE 120 may facilitate communications to and from the network 118and a local area network (LAN) 122 coupled to or established by the CPE120. The CPE 120 may include a router, a wireless router, a local areanetwork device, a modem (e.g., a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem ora cable modem), a residential gateway, another communication device, orcombinations thereof. The CPE 120 may be an integral component of themedia device 104 or a separate component coupled to the media device104. The service provider system 112 may be associated with a satelliteservice provider, a cable service provider, an internet protocoltelevision network service provider, an internet service provider,another entity, or combinations thereof.

The media device 104 may include a processor 124. The processor 124 maybe coupled to a remote interface 126, a first interface 128, a secondinterface 130, and a memory 132. The remote interface 126 may enable themedia device 104 to send data to, and receive information from, a remotecontrol device 134, another input device, or both. The information mayinclude user commands to be processed by the processor 124. The remotecontrol device 134 may also be able to communicate directly with one ormore other devices (e.g., the display device 108, the sound system 106,or both).

The first interface 128 may include a network interface that enables themedia device 104 to communicate via the network 118, via the LAN 122, orboth. The first interface 128 may also include an antenna, or may becoupled to an external antenna, that enables the media device 104 toreceive broadcasts from one or more local broadcasters (e.g., the localbroadcaster 110).

The second interface 130 may enable the media device 104 to sendinformation to, and receive information from, one or more devicescoupled to the second interface 130. The one or more device may include,but are not limited to, the sound system 106, the display device 108, astorage device 136, another device, or combinations thereof. The storagedevice 136 may be an external memory that stores recordings made by theDVR 102.

The memory 132 may store data, such as settings 138 for the media device104, media content, and other information. The settings 138 may includedefault values for various options associated with the media device 104.The default values may be accessed and changed via one or moreconfiguration interfaces. The data may also include instructionsexecutable by the processor 124 to perform tasks. For purposes ofdescription, the instructions stored in the memory 132 of the mediadevice 104 are illustrated in FIG. 1 as organized in functional modules.For example, the memory 132 may include a viewing module 140 that isexecutable by the processor 124 to tune to a particular channel, toreceive television programming associated with the particular channel,to process the received television programming, and to send theprocessed television programming to the display device 108.

The memory 132 may also include the DVR 102 as a functional module thatmay be implemented as instructions executable by the processor 124. TheDVR 102 may record television programming received by the DVR 102,schedule recording of particular television programming at a particulartime for a particular time range, facilitate playback of recordedcontent to the display device 108 or another device, perform tasksassociated with management and control of recorded media content,perform other tasks associated with recording media content, andcombinations thereof. Television programming recorded by the DVR 102 maybe stored to the memory 132 or to the storage device 136 depending onone or more configuration settings of the media device 104. The one ormore configuration settings 138 of the media device 104 may be accessedby the processor 124.

In another embodiment, the DVR 102 is an external digital video recorderthat is communicatively coupled to the media device 104. The externaldigital video recorder may include a processor and a memory accessibleto the processor. The memory may store recorded media content (e.g.,television programming) and may include instructions executable by theprocessor to implement digital video recorder functionality, such asinstructions to implement functions of the DVR 102.

The DVR 102 may generate a DVR interface displayable on the displaydevice 108. The DVR interface enables a user to interact with the DVR102. The DVR interface may be a graphical user interface. One or moreexternal devices may include DVR interface applications, or may access aDVR interface via a web page, to enable the external devices to accessand control the DVR 102. For example, the one or more external devicesmay be a portable computing device 142 (e.g., a mobile communicationdevice, a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant, a lap topcomputer, another type of communication device, or combinations thereof)that includes a DVR interface application that generates the DVRinterface. The portable computing device 142 may access the DVR 102 viaa mobile communication network 144 and the network 118 to enable theuser to instruct the DVR 102 to start recording of particular televisionprogramming, to enable the user to instruct the DVR 102 to schedulerecording of television programming at a scheduled time, to enable theuser to perform media content management, or combinations thereof. Asanother example, the user may use a remote computer device 146 (e.g., acomputer at a work site of the user, a portable computing device coupledto a network access point, etc.) to access a DVR interface webpage.After entry of appropriate identification (e.g., a user name and apassword) the user may use the web page to access the DVR 102 via thenetwork 118 to enable the user to instruct the DVR 102 to startrecording particular television programming, to enable the user toinstruct the DVR 102 to schedule recording of television programming ata scheduled time, to enable the user to perform media contentmanagement, or combinations thereof.

As another example, a DVR interface displayed by a computing device 148(e.g., a mobile communication device, a tablet computer, a personaldigital assistant, a desk top computer, a lap top computer, another typeof communication device, or combinations thereof) may access the DVR 102via the LAN 122 to enable the user to instruct the DVR 102 to startrecording particular television programming, to enable the user toinstruct the DVR 102 to schedule recording of television programming ata scheduled time, to enable the user to perform media contentmanagement, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, one or more ofthe external devices 142, 146, 148 is able to receive recorded content(e.g., television programming) recorded by the DVR 102 for playback.

In an embodiment, the user may request that the DVR 102 recordtelevision programming being received by the media device 104 bypressing a record button of the remote control device 134. Pressing therecord button of the remote control device 134 may cause the mediadevice 104 to send the DVR interface to the display device 108. The DVRinterface may display an identifier of the channel to be recorded andoptions associated with recording the television programming withdefault settings for the options. The default settings may be retrievedfrom the settings 138. The options may include, but are not limited to,a recording time, a recording resolution, and a condition for deletionof the recorded television programming. The recording time may be aparticular time (e.g., 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, or other time).The recording resolution may be a display resolution for the televisionprogramming. The recording resolution may be specified as a particularresolution (e.g., HD 1080p, HD 1080i, HD 720p, HD 720i, SD, etc.), maybe specified as a level, may indicate usage is associated with aparticular type of device, may indicate memory usage level, may includeother information, or a combination thereof. The condition for deletionmay be, but is not limited to, keep until space is needed, keep untilcompletely viewed or substantially viewed (e.g., viewed until creditsfor the television programming are displayed), keep until deleted byuser command, or another condition.

The user may be able to change the channel to be recorded or any of thedefault settings. The DVR interface may also include an accept optionand a cancel option. Selection of the accept option may cause the DVR102 to begin recording the television programming at the recordingresolution indicated by the DVR interface. Selection of the canceloption may cause the DVR 102 to discontinue display of the DVR interfacewithout recording the television programming. In a particularembodiment, the DVR 102 may cause the DVR interface to be removed fromthe display device 108 and cause the DVR 102 to begin recording thetelevision programming as if the accept option was selected afterpassage of a period of time without receiving selection of the acceptoption, selection of the cancel option, a change of the channel, or achange to any of the settings for the options. The period of time may bea particular time (e.g., 5 seconds, 7 seconds, 10 seconds or anothertime value) that is saved in the settings 138 of the memory 132. Anillustrative embodiment of a DVR interface displayed when a user pressesa record button to record television programming being sent to thedisplay device 108 is shown as FIG. 3.

The user may request the DVR 102 to record television programming beingreceived by the media recorder or television programming to be receivedby the media device 104 at a scheduled time in the future. The requestmay be received at the media device 104 from a device (e.g., the remotecontrol device 134, the portable computing device 142, the remotecomputer system 146, the computing device 148, another device, orcombinations thereof).

In a particular embodiment, the user enters a command that results indisplay of an electronic program guide (EPG) at the device. The commandmay be entered via the remote control device 134 before a DVR interfaceis shown or via the DVR interface. The EPG may include data descriptiveof television programming that is available to the media device 104 fora particular time period (e.g., a day, a week, a month, or other timeperiod). The EPG may include data obtained from EPG data 150 receivedfrom the service provider system 112 or from another source. The usermay navigate the EPG to an indicator of television programming that isavailable via a particular channel or the user may navigate the EPG toan indicator of television programming that is available at a scheduledtime in the future via a particular channel. The user may then enter arecord command (e.g., select a record option or press a record button)to display options associated with recording of the televisionprogramming. In other embodiments, the user may select televisionprogramming to be recorded in an alternate manner. For example, the usermay select television programming from a listing of programs and enterthe record command to record the selected television programming. Thelisting may be, but is not limited to, a recommendations list based onuser preferences, viewing history, program popularity, other criteria,or combinations thereof; a listing based on user selected criteria(e.g., genre, popularity, program type, etc.); results of a searchrequest based on user input; other listings of available televisionprogramming; and combinations thereof. The user may request recording ofmore than one program (e.g. by selecting multiple items from thelisting) via a single record command.

When the record command is received, the DVR 102 may determine whetherthe television programming is an episode of a series. If the televisionprogramming is an episode of a series, the user may be presented withoptions via the DVR interface. The options may include an option torecord new episodes of the program and an option to record only theselected episode. When the option to record new episodes of the programis selected, the DVR interface may display an identifier of the series,a channel to record, a start time relative to the scheduled start time,an end time relative to the scheduled end time, and options associatedwith recording the series with default settings for the options. Thedefault settings may be retrieved from the settings 138. The options mayinclude, but are not limited to, a time to begin recording relative to ascheduled begin time, a time to stop recording relative to a scheduledend time, a recording resolution, and a condition for deletion ofrecorded episodes (e.g., keep only the three most recent episodes, keepuntil space is needed, keep until completely viewed or substantiallyviewed, keep until deleted by user command, etc.). The user may be ableto change the default settings. The DVR interface may also include anaccept option and a cancel option. Selection of the accept option maycause the DVR 102 to store user configuration settings data in thesettings 138 of the memory that cause the DVR 102 to schedule recordingof new episodes of the series when such episodes become available. TheDVR 102 may record the television programming at the recordingresolution received via the DVR interface. The DVR 102 may also beginrecording the current episode at the recording resolution received viathe DVR interface when selected television programming is currentlyavailable to the media device 104. Selection of the cancel option mayend a set-up session for scheduling recording of the series. Anillustrative embodiment of a DVR interface displayed when the userenters a selection for the DVR 102 to record episodes of a series isshown as FIG. 4.

When the television programming selected to be recorded is not anepisode of a series, or when the user selects to record only theselected episode of a series, the DVR interface may display anidentifier of the program to be recorded, the channel to be recorded, astart time relative to the scheduled start time, an end time relative tothe scheduled end time, and options associated with recording thetelevision programming with default settings for the options. Thedefault settings may be retrieved from the settings 138. The options mayinclude, but are not limited to, a time to begin recording relative to ascheduled start time, a time to stop recording relative to a scheduledend time, a recording resolution, and a condition for deletion ofrecorded episodes (e.g., keep until space is needed, keep untilcompletely viewed or substantially viewed, keep until deleted by usercommand, etc.). The user may be able to change the default settings viathe DVR interface or another interface. The DVR interface may alsoinclude an accept option and a cancel option. Selection of the acceptoption may cause the DVR 102 to store user configuration settings datain the settings 138 of the memory that cause the DVR 102 to record thetelevision programming at the recording resolution received via the DVRinterface at a scheduled time, or may cause the DVR 102 to beginrecording the television programming at the recording resolutionreceived via the DVR interface when the selected television programmingis currently available to the media device 104. Selection of the canceloption may end a set-up session for scheduling recording of thetelevision programming. An illustrative embodiment of a DVR interfacedisplayed when the user enters a selection for the DVR 102 to recordparticular television programming is shown as FIG. 5.

After receiving a request to record television programming and receivingoptions related to the recording of the television programming via theDVR interface, the DVR 102 may receive the television programming at aparticular time. The particular time may be the time of the recordingrequest when the DVR 102 is to record television programming currentlyavailable to the media device 104, or the particular time may be ascheduled time. The DVR 102 may determine a resolution of the receivedtelevision programming. The resolution may be determined based on anamount of received data used to produce a particular portion of thetelevision programming, based on a service level agreement for aparticular account associated with the request to record the televisionprogramming, based on a resolution associated with the channel carryingthe television programming, based on another determination method, orcombinations thereof. For example, the television programming may bereceived at the media device 104 via a local broadcast from the localbroadcaster 110. The resolution may be determined based on a number ofhorizontal lines that are used to render a frame of the televisionprogramming, based on a type of scanning (e.g., progressive scanning orinterlaced scanning), based on a rate of display delivery (e.g., framesor fields per second), or combinations thereof. As another example, thetelevision programming may be received via a cable television serviceprovider. The resolution may be determined based on whether a servicelevel agreement specifies that high definition (HD) televisionprogramming is to be provided or that standard definition (SD)television programming (e.g., a 480i resolution based on a NationalTelevision System Committee (NTSC) system or a 576i resolution based ona Phase Alternating Line (PAL) system or a Sequentiel Couleur a Memoire(SECAM) system) is to be provided to the media device 104. As anotherexample, the television programming may be provided from the serviceprovider system 112 via a HD channel. The resolution would be determinedto be HD resolution since television programming carried by the channelis HD television programming.

The DVR 102 may determine whether the recording resolution received viathe DVR interface is the same as the requested recording resolution.When the resolution is the same as the recording resolution, the DVR 102may save the television programming as recorded content to the memory132, the storage device 136, or both. When the resolution is differentthan the recording resolution, the DVR 102 converts the televisionprogramming at the resolution to the recording resolution and saves thetelevision programming at the recording resolution as the recordedcontent to the memory 132, the storage device 136, or both.

In some embodiments, the resolution may be a three-dimensional (3D)resolution and the recording resolution may be a particulartwo-dimensional (2D) resolution (e.g., a 2D HD resolution, a 2D SDresolution, a 2D low resolution, etc.). The DVR 102 may convert thetelevision programming from the 3D resolution to the particular 2Dresolution when the DVR 102 records the television programming. In someembodiments, the resolution may be a SD resolution and the recordingresolution may identify high resolution. The DVR 102 may up convert thetelevision programming from the SD resolution to a higher resolutionwhen the DVR 102 records the television programming, though in somecases the higher resolution may not be full HD resolution. In someembodiments, the resolution may be a SD resolution or a HD resolution,and the recording resolution may be a low resolution. The low resolutionmay be suitable for display on portable devices, such as the portablecomputing device 142. The DVR 102 may down convert the televisionprogramming from the SD or HD resolution to the low resolution when theDVR 102 records the television programming as recorded content.

After the television programming is recorded at the recordingresolution, a viewer may access the recorded content via the DVRinterface and view the recorded content at the recording resolution viathe display device 108. In some embodiments, the viewer may access therecorded content via the DVR interface, transfer the televisionprogramming to a first device (e.g., the portable computing device 142or the computing device 148), and view the recorded content at therecording resolution via the first device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a particular embodiment of a system 200including a digital video recorder (DVR) 202 to record televisionprogramming at a selected resolution. The DVR 202 may be a network DVR.The DVR 202 may receive requests via a network 204 to record televisionprogramming. The requests may be received from one or more users thatare associated with an account that enables access to the DVR 202. TheDVR 202 may record the requested television programming, store recordedmedia content (e.g., recorded television programming) for the one ormore users, and make the recorded media content of a particular useravailable to the particular user via the network 204. In someembodiments, a fee may be charged to an account for the ability to usethe DVR 202, a fee may be charged to the account for actual usage of theDVR 202 by a user associated with the account, a fee may be charged tothe account for storage of recorded media content (e.g., televisionprogramming) when a storage space of the recorded media content exceedsa particular size, other fees associated with the DVR 202 may be chargedto the one account, or combinations thereof.

The DVR 202 may be a part of a server 206. The server 206 may be asingle device or a plurality of devices that enable DVR functionality.The server 206 may include a processor 208 and a memory 210. The memory210 may store data, media content (e.g., television programming), andother information. The data may include settings 212 that includedefault values for various options associated with the DVR 202 foraccounts authorized to use the DVR 202. Settings 212 for a particularaccount may be accessed, changed, or both via a configuration interfaceavailable to one or more users associated with the particular account.The memory 210 may also include instructions executable by the processor208. The instructions executable by the processor 208 may be organizedin functional modules, such as the DVR 202.

The DVR 202 may be operable to record requested television programmingreceived by the server 206, to schedule recording of televisionprogramming at a particular time when requested television programmingis available, to facilitate playback of recorded content to viewers thatrequest recording of the television programming, to perform tasksassociated with management and control of recorded content (e.g.,television programming) for users associated with accounts with accessto the DVR 202, to perform other tasks associated with recordingcontent, and combinations thereof. Content recorded by the DVR 202 maybe stored to the memory 210 or to external memory (not shown).

A user associated with an account that has access to the DVR 202 mayaccess the DVR 202 via the network 204 using one or more devices. Theone or more devices may include, but are not limited to, a media device214 coupled to the network 204 via customer premises equipment (CPE)216, a computing device 218 (e.g., a mobile communication device, atablet computer, a personal digital assistant, a desk top computer, alap top computer, another type of communication device, or combinationsthereof) coupled to the network 204 via the CPE 216, a portablecomputing device 220 (e.g., a mobile communication device, a tabletcomputer, a personal digital assistant, a lap top computer, another typeof communication device, or combinations thereof) coupled to the network204 via a mobile communication network 222, a remote computing device224 (e.g., a mobile communication device, a tablet computer, a personaldigital assistant, a desk top computer, a lap top computer, another typeof communication device, or combinations thereof) coupled to the network204 via a network access point 226, another device, or combinationsthereof. The CPE 216 may facilitate communications to and from thenetwork 204 and a local area network (LAN) 228 coupled to or establishedby the CPE 216. The CPE 216 may include a router, a wireless router, alocal area network device, a modem (e.g., a digital subscriber line(DSL) modem or a cable modem), a residential gateway, anothercommunication device, or combinations thereof. The media device 214 maybe a set-top box device, a computer, a tablet computer, a mobilecommunication device, another device, or a combination thereof that isable to send requested media content (e.g., television programming) to asound system 230, a display device 232, or both, for playback. The mediadevice 214 may receive input via a remote control device 234 or otherinput device (e.g., a game controller, mouse, touch screen, etc.).

The user may request that the DVR 202 record television programmingbeing received by the media device 214 by pressing a record button ofthe remote control device 234. Pressing the record button of the remotecontrol device 234 may cause the media device 214 to send a DVRinterface to the display device 232. The DVR interface may display anidentifier of the channel to be recorded and options associated withrecording the television programming with default settings for theoptions. The default settings may be retrieved from the settings 212.The options may include, but are not limited to, a recording time, arecording resolution, and a condition for deletion of the recordedtelevision programming. The recording time may be a particular time(e.g., 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, or other time). The recordingresolution may be a display resolution for the television programming.The recording resolution may be specified as a particular resolution,may be specified as a level, may indicate usage is associated with aparticular type of device, may indicate memory usage level, may includeother information, or may be a combination thereof. The condition fordeletion may be, but is not limited to, keep until space is needed, keepuntil completely viewed or substantially viewed (e.g., viewed untilcredits for the television programming are displayed), keep untildeleted by user command, or another condition.

The user may be able to change the channel to be recorded or any of thedefault settings. The DVR interface may also include an accept optionand a cancel option. Selection of the accept option may cause the DVR202 to begin recording the television programming at the recordingresolution indicated in the DVR interface. Selection of the canceloption may cause the DVR 202 to remove the DVR interface withoutrecording the television programming. The DVR 202 may cause the DVRinterface to be removed from the display device 232. In a particularembodiment, the DVR 202 may begin recording the television programmingas if the accept option was selected after passage of a period of timewithout receiving selection of the accept option, selection of thecancel option, a change of the channel, or a change to any of thesettings for the options. The period of time may be a particular time(e.g., 5 seconds, 7 seconds, 10 seconds or another time value) that issaved in the settings 212 of the memory 210. An embodiment of a DVRinterface displayed when the user presses a record button to recordtelevision programming being sent to the display device 232 is shown asFIG. 3.

The one or more devices 214, 218, 220, 224 may generate a DVR interface,may receive the DVR interface from the server 206, or may access a DVRinterface via a web page to enable the one or more devices 214, 218,220, 224 to access and control the DVR 202. The DVR interface mayinclude an option that enables a user to request recording of televisionprogramming. When the user chooses the option to request recording oftelevision programming, the DVR interface may access electronic programguide (EPG) data 236 from a service provider system 238. The DVRinterface may display an EPG. The EPG may include data descriptive oftelevision programming that is available to the DVR 202 for recordingduring a time period (e.g., a day, a week, a month, or other timeperiod). The user may navigate the EPG to view or select an indicator oftelevision programming of interest that is available via a particularchannel, or the user may navigate the EPG to view or select an indicatorof television programming that is available at a scheduled time via aparticular channel. The user may then enter a record command (e.g.,select a record option or press a record button) to display optionsassociated with recording the television programming. In otherembodiments, the user may select television programming to be recordedin an alternate manner. For example, the user may select televisionprogramming from a listing of programs and enter the record command torecord the selected television programming. The listing may be, but isnot limited to, a recommendations list based on user preferences,viewing history, program popularity, other criteria, or combinationsthereof; a listing based on user selected criteria (e.g., genre,popularity, program type, etc.); results of a search request based onuser input; other listings of available television programming; andcombinations thereof. The user may request recording of more than oneprogram via a single command.

When the record command is received, the DVR 202 may determine whetherthe television programming is an episode of a series. When thetelevision programming is an episode of a series, the user may bepresented with options via the DVR interface. The options may include anoption to record new episodes of the program and an option to recordonly the selected episode. When the option to record new episodes of theprogram is selected, the DVR interface may display an identifier of theseries, a channel to record, a start time relative to the scheduledstart time, an end time relative to the scheduled end time, and optionsassociated with recording the series with default settings for theoptions. The default settings may be retrieved from the settings 212stored in the memory 210. The options may include, but are not limitedto, a time to begin recording relative to a scheduled begin time, a timeto stop recording relative to a scheduled end time, a recordingresolution, and a condition for deletion of recorded episodes. The usermay be able to change the start time relative to the scheduled starttime, the stop time relative to the scheduled end time, and the defaultsettings. The DVR interface may also include an accept option and acancel option. Selection of the accept option may cause the DVR 202 tostore user configuration settings data in the settings 212 of the memory210. The DVR 202 may record the television programming at the recordingresolution received via the DVR interface. The DVR 202 may also record acurrent episode at the recording resolution received via the DVRinterface when selected television programming is available to theserver 206. Selection of the cancel option may end a set-up session forscheduling recording of the series. An illustrative embodiment of a DVRinterface displayed when the user enters a selection for the DVR 202 torecord episodes of a series is shown as FIG. 4.

When the television programming selected to be recorded is not anepisode of a series, or when the user selects to record only theselected episode, the DVR interface may display an identifier of theprogram to be recorded, the channel to be recorded, a start timerelative to the scheduled start time, an end time relative to thescheduled end time, and options associated with recording the televisionprogramming with default settings for the options. The default settingsmay be retrieved from the settings 212 in the memory 210. The optionsmay include, but are not limited to, a time to begin recording relativeto a scheduled start time, a time to stop recording relative to ascheduled end time, a recording resolution, and a condition for deletionof recorded episodes (e.g., keep until space is needed, keep untilcompletely viewed or substantially viewed, keep until deleted by usercommand, etc.). The user may be able to change the start time relativeto the scheduled start time, the stop time relative to the scheduled endtime, and the default settings. The DVR interface may also include anaccept option and a cancel option. Selection of the accept option maycause the DVR 202 to store user configuration settings data in thesettings 212 of the memory 210, or may cause the DVR 202 to be beginrecording the television programming at the recording resolutionreceived via the DVR interface when the selected television programmingis available to the server 206. Selection of the cancel option may end aset-up session for scheduling recording of the television programming.

After receiving a request to record television programming and receivingoptions related to the recording of the television programming via theDVR interface, the DVR 202 may receive the television programming at aparticular time from the programming 240 of the service provider system238 or from another source. The particular time may be the time when theDVR 202 is requested to record television programming available to theserver 206, or the particular time may be a scheduled time. The DVR 202may determine a resolution of the received television programming. Theresolution may be determined based on an amount of received data used toproduce a particular portion of the television programming, based on aservice level agreement for a particular account associated with therequest to record the television programming, based on anotherdetermination method, or combinations thereof.

The DVR 202 may determine whether the recording resolution received viathe DVR interface is the same as the resolution. The resolution may bedetermined based on an amount of received data used to produce aparticular portion of the television programming, based on a servicelevel agreement for a particular account associated with the request torecord the television programming, based on a resolution associated withthe channel carrying the television programming, based on anotherdetermination method, or combinations thereof. When the resolution isthe same as the recording resolution, the DVR 202 may save thetelevision programming as a recording of the television programming atthe recording resolution to the memory 210. When the resolution isdifferent than the recording resolution, the DVR 202 converts thetelevision programming at the first resolution to the recordingresolution and saves the television programming at the recordingresolution to the memory 210. After the television programming isrecorded at the recording resolution, a viewer may access the televisionprogramming from the server 206 via the DVR interface and view thetelevision programming at the recording resolution on one of the one ormore devices 218, 220, 224 or another device that provides access to theserver 206.

Referring to FIG. 3, an embodiment of a DVR interface 300 for enteringinformation and options usable by a DVR to record television programmingthat is being sent to a display device at a time when a viewer enters acommand to record the television programming. The DVR interface 300 mayoverlay a portion of the television programming being sent to thedisplay device.

The DVR interface 300 may include a plurality of user selectable inputoptions 302-308. The user selectable input options 302-308 may includeany combination of input options, such as text entry boxes, pull downmenus, radio buttons, check boxes, or other selectable inputs. The DVRinterface 300 may include a channel option 302, a recording time option304, a recording resolution option 306, and a deletion condition option308. Each user selectable input option 302-308 may be associated withindicia descriptive of the user selectable input option 302-308.

The channel option 302 may display a number or other indicator of achannel that is to be recorded. An initial entry in the channel option302 may correspond to the channel being displayed. The user may changethe initial entry. The initial entry may be changed by selecting theinitial entry with an input device and overwriting the initial entrywith a different channel number or channel identifier via the inputdevice. The user may also change the initial entry by selecting an arrowof the channel option 302 to display a listing of available channels,and the user may select a displayed entry of the listing to have theentry populated in the channel option 302.

In some embodiments, changing the initial entry of the channel option302 to a new entry may cause the media device to change the televisionprogramming sent to the display device in the background of the DVRinterface 300 from television programming associated with the channelcorresponding to the initial entry to television programming associatedwith the channel corresponding to the new entry. In other embodiments,the television programming sent to the display device (e.g., televisionprogramming associated with the channel corresponding to the initialentry) may continue to be sent to the display device after the new entryis entered in the channel option 302.

The recording time option 304 may display a number of minutes thatprogramming of the channel identified in the channel option 302 is to berecorded. An initial entry in the recording time option 304 may be adefault value. The initial entry may be changed by selecting the initialentry with an input device and overwriting the initial entry with adifferent time. The user may also change the initial entry by selectingan arrow of the recording time option 304 to display a listing ofrecording times, and the user may select a displayed entry of thelisting to have the entry populated in the recording time option 304.

The recording resolution option 306 may display a recording resolutionfor the television programming. An initial entry in the recordingresolution option 306 may be a default value. The initial entry may bechanged by selecting an arrow of the recording resolution option 306 todisplay a listing of available resolutions, and the user may select adisplayed entry of the listing to have the entry populated in therecording resolution option 306.

An advanced option 310 may be associated with the recording resolutionoption 306. When the user wants a resolution that is not included in thelisting of available resolutions displayed when the user selects thearrow of the recording resolution option 306, the user may select theadvanced option 310. The advanced option 310 may cause one or moreadditional DVR interfaces to be displayed that enable the user to entera resolution not included in the listing or a user defined recordingresolution. When the user enters a user defined recording resolution,the user defined recording resolution may be assigned a name by theuser, may be saved to a memory, and may appear as the name in thelisting of available resolutions displayed when the user subsequentlyselects the arrow of the recording resolution option 306. A requestedresolution not included in the listing selected by the user after theadvanced option 310 is selected or the user defined recording resolutioncreated after selection of the advanced option 310 may be populated inthe recording resolution option 306.

The delete condition option 308 may display a condition to be met beforerecordings may be deleted by the DVR. An initial entry in the deletecondition option 308 may be a default value. The initial entry may bechanged by selecting an arrow of the delete condition option 308 todisplay a listing of available delete conditions, and the user mayselect a displayed entry of the listing to have the entry populated inthe delete condition option 308.

The DVR interface 300 may also include an accept option 312 and a canceloption 314. Selection of the accept option 312 may result in the DVRreceiving the entries specified by the options 302-308 so that the DVRcan begin recording the requested television programming Selection ofthe cancel option 314 may cancel recording of the television programmingand remove display of the DVR interface 300.

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a DVR interface 400 forentering options usable by a DVR to record a series of televisionprogramming selected from an electronic program guide or from a listingof television programming. The DVR interface 400 may display a titlewindow 402 that shows a title of the series to be recorded and a channelwindow 404 that displays a channel that provides episodes of the seriesat scheduled times. Entries in the title window 402 and the channelwindow 404 may or may not be user selectable. The DVR interface 400 mayinclude a plurality of user selectable input options 406-416. The userselectable input options 406-416 may include any combination of inputoptions, such as text entry boxes, pull down menus, radio buttons, checkboxes, or other selectable inputs. The DVR interface 400 may include afirst start time option 406, a second start time option 408, an end timeoption 410, a recording resolution option 412, a first deletioncondition option 414, and a second deletion condition option 416.

The first start time option 406 may identify whether the recording is tostart before the scheduled start time, at the scheduled start time, orafter the scheduled start time. An initial entry in the first start timeoption 406 may be a default value. The initial entry may be changed byselecting an arrow of the first start time option 406 to display alisting of other available entries. The user may select a displayedentry of the listing to have the entry populated in the first start timeoption 406. When the entry in the first start time option 406 is “At”,the second start time option 408 may be removed or grayed to indicatethat no value can be entered.

The second start time option 408 may display a number of minutes beforeor after the scheduled start time for recording that the DVR is to startrecording the television programming. An initial entry in the secondstart time option 408 may be a default value. The initial entry may bechanged by selecting the initial entry with an input device andoverwriting the initial entry with a different time. The user may alsochange the initial entry by selecting an arrow of the second start timeoption 408 to display a number listing, and the user may select adisplayed entry of the number listing to have the entry populated in thesecond start time option 408.

The end time option 410 may identify whether the recording is to endbefore the scheduled end time, at the scheduled end time, or after thescheduled end time. An initial entry in the end time option 410 may be adefault value. The initial entry may be changed by selecting an arrow ofthe end time option 410 to display a listing of other available entries,and the user may select a displayed entry of the listing to have theentry populated in the end time option 410. When the entry in the endtime option 410 is “Before” or “After”, a second end time option may bedisplayed as a user selectable option.

The recording resolution option 412 may display a recording resolutionfor the television programming. An initial entry in the recordingresolution option 412 may be a default value. The initial entry may bechanged by selecting an arrow of the recording resolution option 412 todisplay a listing of available resolutions, and the user may select adisplayed entry of the listing to have the entry populated in therecording resolution option 412.

An advanced option 418 may be associated with the recording resolutionoption 412. The user may select the advanced option 418 to select orinput a resolution that is not included in the listing of availableresolutions displayed when the user selects the arrow of the recordingresolution option 412. The advanced option 418 may cause one or moreadditional DVR interfaces to be displayed that enable the user to entera desired resolution not included in the listing or to input a userdefined recording resolution. When the user enters a user definedrecording resolution, the user defined recording resolution may beassigned a name by the user, may be saved to a memory, and may appear asthe name in the listing of available resolutions displayed when the usersubsequently selects the arrow of the recording resolution option 412. Aresolution not included in the listing selected by the user after theadvanced option 418 is selected or the user defined recording resolutioncreated after selection of the advanced option 418 may be populated inthe recording resolution option 412.

The first delete condition option 414 may display a condition to be metbefore recordings are deleted by the DVR. An initial entry in the firstdelete condition option 414 may be a default value. The initial entrymay be changed by selecting an arrow of the first delete conditionoption 414 to display a listing of available delete conditions. The usermay select a displayed entry of the listing to have the entry populatedin the first delete condition option 414. The entry in the first deletecondition option 414 may make deletion conditional on a number ofepisodes. For example, the delete condition may be to keep the four mostrecent episodes. When a fifth episode is recorded, the DVR may deletethe oldest of the four episodes stored by the DVR. When the entry in thefirst delete condition option 414 is dependent on a particular number,the second delete condition option 416 may be displayed. When the firstdelete condition 414 is not dependent on the entry in the first deletecondition option 414 (e.g., the entry in the first delete condition 414is “Until Deleted” or “Until Viewed”) the second delete condition option416 may be removed or grayed to indicate that no value can be entered.

The DVR interface 400 may also include an accept option 420 and a canceloption 422. Selection of the accept option 420 may result in the DVRreceiving the entries specified by the options 406-416 so that the DVRcan schedule recording of the series of television programming, recordan episode that is currently available, or both. Selection of the canceloption 422 may cancel recording of the series of television programming.

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a DVR interface 500 forentering options usable by a DVR to record television programmingselected from an electronic program guide or from a listing oftelevision programming. The DVR interface 500 may display a title window502 that shows a title of the series to be recorded and a channel window504 that displays a channel that provides the television programming ata scheduled time. Entries in the title window 502 and the channel window504 may or may not be selectable. The DVR interface 500 may include aplurality of user selectable input options 506-514. The user selectableinput options 506-514 may include any combination of input options, suchas text entry boxes, pull down menus, radio buttons, check boxes, orother selectable inputs. The DVR interface 500 may include a start timeoption 506, a first end time option 508, a second end time option 510, arecording resolution option 512, and a deletion condition option 514.

The start time option 506 may identify whether the recording is to startbefore the scheduled start time, at the scheduled start time, or afterthe scheduled start time. An initial entry in the start time option 506may be a default value. The initial entry may be changed by selecting anarrow of the start time option 506 to display a listing of otheravailable entries, and the user may select a displayed entry of thelisting to have the entry populated in the start time option 506. Whenthe entry in the start time option 506 is “Before” or “After”, a secondstart time option may be displayed as a user selectable option.

The first end time option 508 may identify whether the recording is toend before the scheduled end time, at the scheduled end time, or afterthe scheduled end time. An initial entry in the first end time option508 may be a default value. The initial entry may be changed byselecting an arrow of the first end time option 508 to display a listingof other available entries, and the user may select a displayed entry ofthe listing to have the entry populated in the first end time option508. When the entry in the first end time option 508 is “At”, the secondend time option 510 may be removed or grayed to indicate that no valuecan be entered.

The second end time option 510 may display a number of minutes before orafter the scheduled end time for recording that the DVR is to stoprecording the channel indicated in the channel window 504. An initialentry in the second end time option 510 may be a default value. Theinitial entry may be changed by selecting the initial entry with aninput device and overwriting the initial entry with a different time.The user may also change the initial entry by selecting an arrow of thesecond end time option 510 to display a number listing, and the user mayselect a displayed entry of the number listing to have the entrypopulated in the second end time option 510.

The recording resolution option 512 may display a recording resolutionfor the television programming. An initial entry in the recordingresolution option 512 may be a default value. The initial entry may bechanged by selecting an arrow of the recording resolution option 512 todisplay a listing of available resolutions, and the user may select adisplayed entry of the listing to have the entry populated in therecording resolution option 512.

An advanced option 516 may be associated with the recording resolutionoption 512. The user may select the advanced option 516 to select orinput a resolution that is not included in the listing of availableresolutions displayed when the user selects the arrow of the recordingresolution option 512. The advanced option 516 may cause one or moreadditional DVR interfaces to be displayed that enable the user to entera desired resolution not included in the listing or a user definedrecording resolution. When the user enters a user defined recordingresolution, the user defined recording resolution may be assigned a nameby the user, may be saved to a memory, and may appear as the name in thelisting of available resolutions displayed when the user subsequentlyselects the arrow of the recording resolution option 512. A resolutionnot included in the listing selected by the user after the advancedoption 516 is selected or the user defined recording resolution createdafter selection of the advanced option 516 may be populated in therecording resolution option 512.

The delete condition option 514 may display a condition to be met beforerecordings are deleted by the DVR. An initial entry in the deletecondition option 514 may be a default value. The initial entry may bechanged by selecting an arrow of the delete condition option 514 todisplay a listing of available delete conditions, and the user mayselect a displayed entry of the listing to have the entry populated inthe delete condition option 514.

The DVR interface 500 may also include an accept option 518 and a canceloption 520. Selection of the accept option 518 may result in the DVRreceiving the entries specified by the options 506-516 so that the DVRcan schedule recording of the television program or begin recording thetelevision programming when the scheduled programming is currentlyavailable. Selection of the cancel option 520 may cancel recording ofthe series of television programming.

Referring to FIG. 6, a flow chart of a first particular embodiment of amethod to record media content to a digital video recorder (DVR) at aselected resolution is shown. The method may be performed by a DVR thatis a component of a media device (e.g., the media device 104 depicted inFIG. 1), a stand-alone DVR, or a network DVR (e.g., the DVR 202 depictedin FIG. 2).

At 602, a request to record media content may be received at the DVR,where the request specifies a recording resolution. The request may beto record media content that is to be received at the DVR at a scheduledtime in the future. For example, an electronic program guide may displayprogramming that is available at a time in the future at a displaydevice. A user may select a particular entry in the electronic programguide and select an option to have the DVR schedule to record theprogram. Alternately, the request may be to record media content that iscurrently being sent to the display device. For example, the user mayselect a record button on a remote control device to record mediacontent that is being displayed at the display device via the DVR.

The media content may be received at a first resolution at the DVR, at604. The first resolution may be identified, at 606. The firstresolution may be identified based on an amount of data used to producea particular portion of the media content, based on a service levelagreement for a particular account associated with the request, or both.For example, the media content may be received via a local broadcastfrom a broadcast station. An identity of the first resolution may bebased on a number of horizontal lines that are used to render a frame ofthe media content, based on a type of scanning (e.g., progressivescanning or interlaced scanning), based on a rate of display delivery(e.g., frames or fields per second), or combinations thereof. As anotherexample, the media content may be received via a cable televisionservice provider. The identity of the first resolution may be based onwhether a service level agreement, or other information such asmetadata, specifies that HD media content is to be provided or that SDmedia content is to be provided.

The first resolution is compared to the recording resolution, at 608.The comparison may be made by the DVR. When the first resolution is thesame as the recording resolution, the media content at the recordingresolution may be stored via the DVR at a storage device as recordedcontent, at 610. The storage device may be part of the DVR or thestorage device may be separate from the DVR. In this case, the methodmay end, at 614.

When the first resolution is not the same as the recording resolution,the media content at the first resolution may be converted to the mediacontent at the recording resolution with the DVR, at 612. A downconversion may be performed at the DVR when the recording resolution islower than the first resolution. An up conversion may be performed atthe DVR when the recording resolution is higher than the firstresolution. After the conversion, the media content at the recordingresolution may be stored at the storage device as the recorded content,at 610. The method may end, at 614.

Referring to FIG. 7, a flow chart of a second particular embodiment of amethod to record media content to a digital video recorder (DVR) at aselected resolution is shown. The method may be performed by a DVR thatis a component of a media device (e.g., the media device 104 depicted inFIG. 1), a stand-alone DVR, or a network DVR (e.g., the DVR 202 depictedin FIG. 2).

At 702, a request to record media content is received at the DVR. Therequest may be to record media content that is to be received at the DVRat a scheduled time in the future. For example, an electronic programguide may display programming that is available at a time in the futureat a display device. A user may select a particular entry in theelectronic program guide and select an option to have the DVR scheduleto record the program. Alternately, the request may be to record mediacontent that is currently being sent to the display device. For example,the user may select a record button on a remote control device to recordmedia content that is being displayed at the display device via the DVR.

A graphical interface may be sent from the DVR to the display device inresponse to the request, at 704. The graphical interface may enableselection of a recording resolution and other parameters associated withrecording the media content. The graphical interface may include awindow that displays a default resolution. The user may accept thedefault resolution by making no change to the default resolution. Toselect a different resolution, the user may select an option (e.g., adown arrow displayed in a portion of the window) to display a listing ofavailable resolutions. The user may select a resolution from the listingof available resolutions. The listing of available resolutions mayinclude entries corresponding to particular resolutions (e.g., HD 1080p,HD 1080i, SD, etc.), quality levels (e.g., high, medium, low), qualitylevels associated with devices (high-television, low-television,high-portable device, low-portable device, etc.), other resolutions, orcombinations thereof. As another option, the user may select from otherresolutions not included in the listing of resolutions, the user may beable to enter a particular resolution, or both. The graphical interfacemay include an accept option and a cancel option. When the user issatisfied with the resolution and the other parameters associated withrecording the media content, the user may select the accept option torecord the media content. When the request is a request to record mediacontent that is currently being displayed to the display device, or torecord media content that is available for immediate display, theinterface may be removed from the display device after a time period(e.g., three seconds, five seconds, ten seconds, or another time period)when no user interaction with the graphic interface is received. In thiscase, the DVR may record the media content as if the accept option wasselected. To cancel the request, the user may select the cancel option.

Identification of the recording resolution may be received at the DVR,at 706. The identification may be received from the graphical interfacealong with other information to record the media content. When the mediacontent is to be recorded at a scheduled time, the recording resolutionand the information may be saved, and the DVR may schedule the recordingto occur at the scheduled time. When the media content is currentlyavailable for recording, the recording resolution and the informationmay be used by the DVR to record the media content.

The media content may be received at a first resolution at the DVR, at708. The first resolution may be identified, at 710. The firstresolution may be identified based on an amount of data used to producea particular portion of the media content, based on a service levelagreement for a particular account associated with the request, or both.For example, the media content may be received via a local broadcastfrom a broadcast station. An identity of the first resolution may bebased on a number of horizontal lines that are used to render a frame ofthe media content, based on a type of scanning (e.g., progressivescanning or interlaced scanning), based on a rate of display delivery(e.g., frames or fields per second), or combinations thereof. As anotherexample, the media content may be received via a cable televisionservice provider. The identity of the first resolution may be based onwhether a service level agreement, or other information, specifies thatHD media content is to be provided or that SD media content is to beprovided.

The first resolution is compared to the recording resolution, at 712.The comparison may be made by the DVR. When the first resolution is thesame as the recording resolution, the media content at the recordingresolution may be stored via the DVR at a storage device as recordedcontent, at 714. The storage device may be part of the DVR or thestorage device may be separate from the DVR. The method may end, at 718.

When the first resolution is not the same as the recording resolution,the media content at the first resolution may be converted to the mediacontent at the recording resolution with the DVR, at 716. A downconversion may be performed at the DVR when the recording resolution islower than the first resolution. An up conversion may be performed atthe DVR when the recording resolution is higher than the firstresolution. After the resolution conversion, the media content at therecording resolution may be stored at the storage device as the recordedcontent, at 714. The method then ends, at 718.

Various embodiments disclosed herein enable a user to specify arecording resolution for recording television programming. The abilityto specify the recording resolution enables the user to balancerecording space requirements to save the television programming asrecorded content against a viewing experience during playback of therecorded content. Recording at a high resolution may use a large amountof recording space, but may provide an enhanced viewing experience.Recording at a low resolution may use less recording space thanrecording at a higher resolution, but the viewing experience duringplayback of the recorded content may be less pleasing. Enabling the userto specify a recording resolution for television programming stored to anetwork DVR may reduce bandwidth requirements to a system. A significantnumber of people may request television content to be recorded at aresolution less than the resolution typically provided to the people bya service provider when the people receive the television programmingfor instantaneous viewing view a display device. Providing recordedcontent at a resolution that is less than the resolution typicallyprovided resolution may result in less bandwidth usage by the serviceprovider. Also, some of the people may never retrieve the recordedcontent from storage, which also results in less bandwidth usage.

Referring to FIG. 8, an illustrative embodiment of a general computersystem is shown and is designated 800. The computer system 800 mayinclude a set of instructions that can be executed to cause the computersystem 800 to perform any one or more of the methods or computer basedfunctions disclosed herein. The computer system 800 may operate as astandalone device or may be connected, e.g., using a network, to othercomputer systems or peripheral devices. For example, the computer system800 may include or be included within any one or more of the mediadevices 104, 214, the service provider systems 112, 238, the CPE 120,216, the remote control devices 134, 234, the storage device 136, theportable computing devices 142, 220, the remote computer systems 146,224, the computing devices 148, 218, the server 206, or the networkaccess point 226 described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

In a networked deployment, the computer system 800 may operate in thecapacity of a server or as a client user computer in a server-clientuser network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer(or distributed) network environment. The computer system 800 may alsobe implemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a mobile device, a palmtop computer, a laptopcomputer, a desktop computer, a communications device, a wirelesstelephone, a web appliance, or any other machine capable of executing aset of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to betaken by that machine. In a particular embodiment, the computer system800 may be implemented using electronic devices that provide video,audio, or data communication. Further, while a single computer system800 is illustrated, the term “system” shall also be taken to include anycollection of systems or sub-systems that individually or jointlyexecute a set, or multiple sets, of instructions to perform one or morecomputer functions.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the computer system 800 may include aprocessor 802, e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphicsprocessing unit (GPU), or both. Moreover, the computer system 800 mayinclude a main memory 804 and a static memory 806, which can communicatewith each other via a bus 808. As shown, the computer system 800 mayfurther include a video display unit 810, such as a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), a flat panel display, a solid state display, or a lampassembly of a projection system. Additionally, the computer system 800may include an input device 812, such as a keyboard, and a cursorcontrol device 814, such as a mouse. The computer system 800 may alsoinclude a drive unit 816, a signal generation device 818, such as aspeaker or remote control, and a network interface device 820. Somecomputer systems 800 may not include an input device (e.g., a server maynot include an input device).

In a particular embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 8, the drive unit 816may include a computer-readable storage device 822 in which one or moresets of instructions 824, e.g. software, can be embedded. Further, theinstructions 824 may embody one or more of the methods or logic asdescribed herein. In a particular embodiment, the instructions 824 mayreside completely, or at least partially, within the main memory 804,the static memory 806, and/or within the processor 802 during executionby the computer system 800. The main memory 804 and the processor 802also may include computer-readable storage devices. The instructions 824in the drive unit 816, the main memory 804, the static memory 806, theprocessor 802, or combinations thereof may include a digital videorecorder 826. The instructions 824 in the drive unit 816, the mainmemory 804, the static memory 806, the processor 802, or combinationsthereof may include a digital video recorder interface 828 thatgenerates one or more user interfaces for communication with the digitalvideo recorder 826, enables input of data associated with the digitalvideo recorder 826 (e.g., a recording resolution), or both.

In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations, suchas application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arraysand other hardware devices, may be constructed to implement one or moreof the methods described herein. Applications that may include theapparatus and systems of various embodiments may broadly include avariety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodimentsdescribed herein may implement functions using two or more specificinterconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and datasignals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or asportions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, thepresent system encompasses software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein may be implemented by software programsexecutable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limitedembodiment, implementations may include distributed processing,component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing.Alternatively, virtual computer system processing may be constructed toimplement one or more of the methods or functionality as describedherein.

The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readable storage device822 that stores instructions 824 or receives, stores and executesinstructions 824, so that a device connected to a network 830 maycommunicate voice, video or data over the network 830. While thecomputer-readable storage device is shown to be a single device, theterm “computer-readable storage device” includes a single device ormultiple devices, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/orassociated caches and servers that store one or more sets ofinstructions. The term “computer-readable storage device” shall alsoinclude any medium that is capable of storing a set of instructions forexecution by a processor or that device a computer system to perform anyone or more of the methods or operations disclosed herein.

In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, thecomputer-readable storage device may include a solid-state memory suchas a memory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatileread-only memories. Further, the computer-readable storage device may bea random access memory or other volatile re-writable memory.Additionally, the computer-readable storage device may include amagneto-optical or optical medium, such as a disk or tapes or otherstorage device. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include anyone or more of a computer-readable storage device and other equivalentsand successor media, in which data or instructions may be stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsthat may be implemented in particular embodiments with reference toparticular standards and protocols, the disclosed embodiments are notlimited to such standards and protocols. Such standards are periodicallysuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocolshaving the same or similar functions as those disclosed herein areconsidered equivalents thereof.

The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of the variousembodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a completedescription of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systemsthat utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many otherembodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewingthe disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from thedisclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.Accordingly, the disclosure and the figures are to be regarded asillustrative rather than restrictive.

One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein,individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely forconvenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of thisapplication to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover,although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangementdesigned to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted forthe specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover anyand all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided with the understanding thatit will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of theclaims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, variousfeatures may be grouped together or described in a single embodiment forthe purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to beinterpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodimentsrequire more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather,as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may bedirected to less than all of the features of any of the disclosedembodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into theDetailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as definingseparately claimed subject matter.

The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall withinthe scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to the maximum extent allowedby law, the scope of the present disclosure is to be determined by thebroadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and theirequivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoingdetailed description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: identifying, by a processingsystem including a processor, a request to record scheduled mediaprogramming; determining, by the processing system, a resolution of thescheduled media programming; determining, by the processing system, arecording resolution, wherein the scheduled media programming is to bestored as recorded media programming at the recording resolution, andwherein the recording resolution is determined based on an outputresolution of a display device configured to play the recorded mediaprogramming; comparing, by the processing system, the resolution of thescheduled media programming to the recording resolution; and in responseto the resolution being different than the recording resolution,converting, by the processing system, the scheduled media programming tothe recording resolution, wherein the converting of the scheduled mediaprogramming to the recording resolution comprises performing one of anup conversion in response to the recording resolution being higher thanthe resolution or a down conversion in response to the recordingresolution being lower than the resolution, wherein the scheduled mediaprogramming is stored at the recording resolution at a storage device.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduled media programming isreceived at a digital video recorder, wherein the recording resolutionis determined based on a user account associated with the request, andwherein an indication of the recording resolution is stored at thedigital video recorder.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the processingsystem stores data associated with a second user account, and whereinthe second user account is associated with a second recording resolutionthat is different from the recording resolution.
 4. The method of claim1, wherein the up conversion is performed in response to the outputresolution of the display device being higher than the resolution. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the resolution isbased on an amount of received data used to produce a particular portionof the scheduled media programming.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereinthe scheduled media programming comprises television programming.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the display device is associated with a mediaplayback device, a customer premises equipment device, a mobilecommunication device, a portable computing device, or a combinationthereof.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is obtained froma remote control device and wherein the request is received in responseto user input via a graphical interface to record the scheduled mediaprogramming that is being sent to the display device.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the up conversion produces a modified televisionprogram with a modified resolution, wherein the modified resolution ishigher than the resolution, and wherein the modified resolution is lowerthan the output resolution.
 10. The method of claim 1, whereindetermining the resolution is based on a type of scanning of thescheduled media programming.
 11. A device comprising: a processingsystem including a processor; and a memory that stores executableinstructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitateperformance of operations, comprising: identifying a request to recordmedia programming distributed by a service provider, wherein the requestis associated with a user account; determining a resolution of the mediaprogramming; determining a recording resolution, wherein the recordingresolution is determined independently of the resolution, wherein themedia programming is to be stored as recorded media programming at therecording resolution, and wherein the recording resolution is determinedbased on an output resolution of a display device configured to play therecorded media programming; comparing the resolution of the mediaprogramming to the recording resolution; and converting the mediaprogramming from the resolution to the recording resolution in responseto determining that the recording resolution is different than theresolution, wherein converting the media programming to the recordingresolution comprises performing one of an up conversion in response tothe recording resolution being higher than the resolution or a downconversion in response to the recording resolution being lower than theresolution, wherein the media programming is stored at the recordingresolution at a storage device.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein therecording resolution is a particular resolution for playback via amobile communication device associated with the display device, andwherein the operations further comprise sending a copy of the mediaprogramming to the mobile communication device from the storage device.13. The device of claim 12, wherein the recording resolution is lowerthan a standard definition resolution.
 14. The device of claim 11,wherein the media programming comprises television programming.
 15. Thedevice of claim 11, wherein determining the resolution is based on arate of display delivery of the media programming.
 16. The device ofclaim 11, wherein the resolution is a three-dimensional resolution, andwherein the recording resolution is a two-dimensional resolution.
 17. Amachine-readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that,when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitateperformance of operations, comprising: identifying a request to recorddistributed media content at a digital recording device, wherein themedia content is distributed by a content source; determining aresolution of the distributed media content; determining a recordingresolution that is not included in the request, wherein the recordingresolution is determined independently of the resolution, wherein thedistributed media content is to be stored as recorded media content atthe recording resolution, and wherein the recording resolution isdetermined based on an output resolution of a display device configuredto play the recorded media content; comparing the resolution of thedistributed media content to the recording resolution; and convertingthe distributed media content to the recording resolution in response todetermining that the resolution is different than the recordingresolution, wherein converting the distributed media content to therecording resolution comprises performing one of an up conversion inresponse to the recording resolution being higher than the resolutionand a down conversion in response to the recording resolution beinglower than the resolution, wherein the at the recording resolution isstored at the recording resolution at a storage device.
 18. Themachine-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein determining theresolution is based on a content source of the distributed mediacontent.
 19. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 18, whereinthe request is associated with an account serviced by a serviceprovider, wherein the content source is the service provider, andwherein the resolution is based on a service level agreement associatedwith the account.
 20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 18,wherein the request is associated with an account serviced by a serviceprovider, wherein the content source is a distribution channel providedby the service provider, and wherein the resolution is based on aparticular resolution associated with the distribution channel.